Interactive reward associated with a broadcast

ABSTRACT

An interactive technique for generating a supplementary, program-related output. A programming signal and a supplementary, program-related data signal are combined into a broadcast signal which is then broadcast from a program signal source. The broadcast signal is received, and the programming signal of the received broadcast signal is performed with reproduction equipment for an audience. The supplementary, program-related data signal of the received broadcast signal is stored, and retrieval of the stored supplementary, program-related data signal is enabled interactively with the programming signal being performed. In response to a control signal being actuated by a member of the audience tuned to the programming signal being performed, the stored supplementary, program-related data signal is retrieved and used to generate the supplementary, program-related output. The supplementary, program-related data signal can be used, for example, to print a reward, such as a discount coupon for purchasing a product advertised as part of the programming signal.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention is directed to an interactive technique appliedwhile an audience is listening to and/or watching a program broadcastfrom a programming signal source as it is being performed byreproduction equipment and, more particularly, to interactivebroadcasting that enables individual members of that audience to readilyobtain a supplementary, program-related output, such as a discountcoupon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] When a program is broadcast, the information it contains may bemore limited than the program provider wants to provide and less thanthe audience member (referred to hereinafter as a “viewer” or“participant”) is interested in obtaining. The “program” can be audioand/or video, commercial (e.g. advertisement) and/or non-commercial(e.g. an entertainment show), and is obtained as a programming signal(e.g. a television signal) from a program signal source (e.g. atelevision station) originated by a program provider (e.g. anadvertiser). The “broadcast” of the program can be over the airwaves,cable, satellite, or any other signal transmission medium. This termalso applies to playback from recording media such as audio tape, videotape, DAT, CD-ROM, and semiconductor memory. An “audience” for suchprogram reproduction is constituted of the persons who perceive theprogram.

[0003] The program is “performed” by any means which result in some formof perception by human beings, the most common being video and audio.The “reproduction equipment” is any and all types of units to convert abroadcast signal into human perceptible form.

[0004] The audience can be described as being “tuned” to a program whenthe signal source is a TV or radio broadcast station. This term may beless commonly applied when the signal source is a tape recorder, forexample. However, for the sake of brevity and convenience, the word“tuned” is applied herein to all situations in which an audience memberselects a particular program, whether it be by twisting a dial,operating a remote control, or popping a cassette into a tape recorderfor playback.

[0005] It can be readily appreciated that TV programs are restricted toa particular length due to the time period allocated to a show, and thehigh cost charged for broadcasting a commercial advertisement (referredto herein interchangeably as “commercial” or “advertisement”) based onits duration. Many illustrations can be given that show the need toprovide materials to supplement the show and/or advertisement. Forexample, consumers may seek detailed information about an advertisedproduct. A news program could provide viewers with historicalinformation about a person or place currently in the news. Governmentinstitutions could provide application forms related to announcementsfor public services. A retailer could make available an incentivereward, such as discount coupons, to purchase its products. Otherrewards could also be available, such as free theater tickets forviewers who qualify by participating in a survey or in a game. All suchbroadcast program-related materials, in tangible and intangible form, bethey information, rewards or anything else, are collectively referred toherein as “supplementary materials”. However, for reasons of brevity andconvenience, the ensuing discussion related to the present inventionwill refer only to incentive rewards, or reward coupons, or just“rewards,” for short.

[0006] It is well known by TV advertisers, for example, that theexperience of viewing an advertised product creates an immediate desirein the viewer to purchase that product. This desire has an initiallyhigh level of interest during and shortly after the broadcast, butdecreases sharply during a falloff period in the hours that follow.However, if the viewer receives an immediate reward while the level ofinterest is still high, in the form of a reward coupon for example, anincentive is established for the viewer to retain a high level ofinterest to purchase the product, or at least higher than it would beotherwise, well beyond the falloff period. Also, the prospect ofreceiving an immediate reward can convert an attitude of annoyance athaving a TV show interrupted by an unwanted commercial into an attitudeof at least tolerance and perhaps even a degree of interest in thecommercial.

[0007] Viewers have been provided during broadcasts with telephonenumbers and/or website addresses for obtaining the rewards offered byadvertisers. However, the need to memorize or write down the telephonenumbers and/or URLs is an inconvenience as well as a source for error.Consequently, prior art techniques have been developed for providinginteractive access to such rewards. The word “interactive” as utilizedherein denotes an activity that takes place during the course of abroadcast. The aim of such interactive access is to enable andfacilitate access to the rewards without having to write down ormemorize anything. Access should be gained with only a simple manualintervention by the viewer.

[0008] Several techniques for interactive access to web sites on theInternet are known. However, such techniques have various shortcomings.For example, they are relatively complex in design and the use of anadditional computer with a separate display is required at the viewerend. Also, the interactive access takes over a communication line, suchas a telephone line, making it unavailable for its normal use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] One object of the present invention is to provide an improvedinteractive technique for obtaining supplementary, program-relatedoutputs, such as rewards.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide aneffective interactive technique for obtaining such program-relatedrewards that requires minimal equipment at the viewer end.

[0011] A further object of the present invention is to provide aninteractive technique for interactively obtaining such program-relatedrewards that is simple and convenient to use by the viewer.

[0012] These and other objects are attained in accordance with oneaspect of the present invention directed to an interactive method forgenerating a supplementary, program-related output, comprising obtaininga programming signal and a supplementary, program-related data signal.The programming signal and the supplementary, program-related datasignal are combined into a broadcast signal which is then broadcast froma program signal source. The broadcast signal is received and theprogramming signal of the received broadcast signal is performed withreproduction equipment for an audience. The supplementary,program-related data signal of the received broadcast signal is stored,and retrieval of the stored supplementary, program-related data signalis enabled interactively with the programming signal being performed. Inresponse to a control signal being actuated by a member of the audiencetuned to the programming signal being performed, the storedsupplementary, program-related data signal is retrieved and used togenerate the supplementary, program-related output.

[0013] Another aspect of the invention is directed to an apparatus forinteractively generating a supplementary, program-related output. Theapparatus includes means for combining a programming signal and asupplementary, program-related data signal into a broadcast signal, andthen broadcasting the broadcast signal from a program signal source.Means are provided for receiving the broadcast signal and for performingthe programming signal of the received broadcast signal withreproduction equipment for an audience. The supplementary,program-related data signal of the received broadcast signal is stored,and means is provided for enabling retrieval of the storedsupplementary, program-related data signal interactively with theprogramming signal being performed. Responsive to a control signal beingactuated by a member of the audience tuned to the programming signalbeing performed, the stored supplementary, program-related data signalis interactively retrieved and used to generate the supplementary,program-related output.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the invention.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing operations performed by thearrangement of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The present invention relies on the following key components. Asshown in FIG. 1, a programming signal source 1, such as a television(“TV”) broadcast station, generates an output signal 2 which is acombination of a programming signal 5 and a reward data signal 7. Signal2 is received by program reproduction apparatus 3 which can be capableof suitably reproducing the programming signal for video and/or audioperformance. The received signal 2 is inputted to reward outputapparatus 10 which can be manually activated by the viewer, such as withremote control 27, to interactively print a reward on a printer 37.

[0017] The present invention is particularly valuable to an advertiserwho is offering a discount coupon applicable toward purchase of theproduct being advertised. Turning now to a more detailed explanation ofthe present invention, a reward data signal is provided along with theprogramming signal in order to enable printing a reward couponinteractively with the program to which the viewer is tuned. Thus, theconventional programming signal 5 is encoded by encoder 6 with a rewarddata signal 7. The term “encoded” is used in the broadest sense toinclude any and all techniques for combining a programming signal withanother signal for broadcasting both together by a well known, commonlyused broadcast transmitter 8. At the viewer end, both signals arereceived, separated, processed and reproduced. The specific techniquechosen depends on various design considerations. The reward data signalcan be either analog or digital. The encoding, transmission, detectionand decoding of such data signals are conventional and readily apparentto anyone with ordinary skill in the art. Such specifics do not form apart of the present invention. Details thereof would add unnecessarilyto the length and complexity of this description. Consequently, suchdetails are not provided herein.

[0018] In accordance with a key aspect of the present invention, thereward data signal 7 includes all of the data specific to the particularreward coupon that is required to print it. Such data includes, forexample, the text, font, formatting, symbols, background color, fontcolor, and the like. All of this data is included in a reward datasignal 7, is combined with programming signal 5, and is transmittedalong with the programming signal as part of output signal 2. Avariation of this approach is presented below in connection with adiscussion of memory 39.

[0019] Broadcast output signal 2 is received by program reproductionapparatus 3. In particular, receiver 11 processes the receivedprogramming signal 5 and inputs it, as signal 5A, to reproduction device13. Thus, if apparatus 3 is a TV set, receiver 11 could be a tuner, anddevice 13 is the TV screen. Receiver 11 can include circuitry to extractthe programming signal and/or the reward data signal from signal 2. Suchcircuitry is well known, and thus details thereof are not needed herein.

[0020] The reward data signal 7 is provided, as signal 7A, to decoder15. Alternatively, signal 2 can be inputted directly to decoder 15.Decoder 15 outputs a reward printing signal 16 to short term memorycircuit 17. Signal 16 can be identical to signal 7A, it can be aminimally changed version thereof (e.g., amplified), or it can be asubstantially changed version, depending on the specific signals andencoding/decoding technique chosen based on well known designconsiderations.

[0021] For example, decoder 15 can accumulate therein all the datarequired to print one reward coupon, for example. When the accumulationof that data is completed, it could all be transferred into short termmemory 17. Alternatively, the accumulation and storage of data for anentire coupon would take place in memory 17 under control of controller19 (discussed below). In any case, memory 17 stores therein datacorresponding to a reward for as long as it needs to be kept availablefor selection by the viewer interactively with the program beingperformed and to which the viewer is tuned. When that situation changes,such as when a new reward is offered during that same program, or in adifferent program to which the viewer is tuned, controller 19 can resetmemory 17, and the data for the new is stored in the newly reset memory17.

[0022] When decoder 15 detects a reward as part of signal 2, itgenerates a reward recognition signal 18 to controller 19. This resultsin controller 19 generating a memory control signal 20 and an indicatorcontrol signal 21.

[0023] When controller 19 receives an indicator control signal 21, itgenerates indicator output signal 23 to availability indicator 25.Indicator 25 can generate a visual, audible or sensory signal to alertthe viewer to the fact that a reward is interactively available duringthe program to which the viewer is then tuned. The viewer is providedwith a handheld, remote control device 27, such as is commonly used withTVs. Such a device includes buttons 28, 29 and 30 depicted forillustrative purposes. Of course, device 27 typically includes many suchbuttons. Button 30, for example, could be a programmable button on agenerally available remote control device, or it would be a specificbutton on a customized device 27. In any case, when the viewer depressesbutton 30 in response to an alert received from indicator 25, and due tothe interest by the viewer in a reward then being offered, the rewardcan be interactively printed as follows. As a result of button 30 beingdepressed, remote control device 27 generates output signal 31 which isinputted to controller 19. The remote control can be connected tocontroller 19 directly by wire or through remote transmission. In eithercase, controller 19 responds to signal 31 by generating print controlsignal 33 to reward processing circuit 35. Reward processing circuit 35retrieves the reward printing data then stored in short term memory 17,and processes that signal so as to render it suitable for printing byprinter 37. Thus, for example, circuit 35 can have stored therein theprinter driver particular to the specific printer 37 being used by theviewer.

[0024] To summarize, signal 2 broadcast by the TV station 1 includesboth a programming signal and a reward data signal for the reward beingmade available to the viewer for printing the reward interactivelyduring that program. When such a reward is interactively available, theviewer is alerted to this fact by indicator 25. If the viewer chooses tohave that reward printed, button 30 on remote control 27 can bedepressed to actuate printer 37 to print the reward for which the datais then stored in short term memory 17.

[0025] As explained above, a key aspect of the invention is that thereward data signal 7 includes all of the data required to print aspecific coupon, and all of that data is transmitted as part of thebroadcast output signal 2. The addition of reward data signal 7 toprogramming signal 5 adds to the data transmission burdens both at thetransmitting end and the receiving end. Although text-heavy rewardcoupons should not normally be too burdensome in this regard,image-heavy coupons may have a more significant impact. In any case, itmay be advantageous to limit the amount of additional data that needs tobe broadcast due to the inclusion of the reward data signal in outputsignal 2. One way of doing so is to permanently store at the viewer'slocation some of the reward data that is required to print a rewardcoupon and which is common to all interactively available rewards. Thisdata is stored in memory 39. Thus, the common reward printing data isstored in memory 39, whereas only the data specific to one reward isbroadcast as part of output signal 2. For example, such common rewardprinting data could be related to the formatting of the rewards. Thus,when controller 19 receives a print control signal 31, it generatesanother memory control signal 41 to memory 39. This triggers thetransfer of information from memory 39 to reward processing circuit 35.Circuit 35 then combines the specific reward printing data from shortterm memory 17 with the common reward printing data from memory 39, andthen transfers the combined printing data to printer 37 for the printingof the reward coupon.

[0026]FIG. 2 shows the flow of operations required to implement theinvention with the apparatus depicted in FIG. 1. In particular,broadcast signal 2 is received by apparatus 3, as depicted by 50. Theremaining operations depicted in FIG. 2 are performed by controller 19.In particular, controller 19 determines whether decoder 15 has detecteda reward data signal, per 52. If it has, then an indicator output signalis generated by controller 19, per 54. Also, controller 19 isresponsible for having the reward data for a particular reward couponstored in short term memory 17, per 56. Controller 19 then alsodetermines whether a print control signal 31 is received from remotecontrol device 27, per 58. If so, then operation 60 sends the signals toreward processing circuit 35 and memories 17 and 39 to collect andprocess the data required by printer 37 to print a coupon. Finally,printer 37 prints the reward, per 62.

[0027] Memory 39 could also have pre-stored therein print data forseveral different types of formats. Which format is printed depends on adigital bit, for example, included in output signal 2 and processed bycontroller 19 for input to memory 29 in a well known manner.

[0028] Apparatus 3 is a conventional component of a commerciallyavailable video and/or audio instrument, such as a TV set. Apparatus 10could be embodied as a separate box that houses all of its components.Only minimal retrofitting of the TV, for example, would be required inorder to implement the invention, such as connecting the broadcastreceiver 11 (e.g. TV tuner) to the decoder 15. The connection to the TVset could be with a direct line or by remote signal transmission (e.g.RF, infrared). Other than that, the installation of the box housingapparatus 10 is very simple in that it just needs to be plugged into awall outlet socket to receive power. Only a one time, fast, simpleinstallation is involved that requires no retrofit of other apparatus inthe house.

[0029] Alternatively, apparatus 10 could have its circuitry incorporatedinto the electronics of the TV. For example, the electronics could befabricated on the semiconductor chip used to control operation of a TVand the viewing of programs on it. Such TV chips are becomingincreasingly sophisticated with modern TVs being provided with addedfunctionality approaching that of a computer. The cost of adding suchcircuitry to a TV chip is minimal considering the large number of chipsover which the cost would be spread.

[0030] Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed in detail above, various modifications thereto will be readilyapparent to anyone with ordinary skill in the art. For example, memories17 and 39 can be combined. Also, rather than printing the reward ascoupon made of paper and ink, the reward data can be outputted to aportable electronic storage device, such as a smartcard. The smartcardcould be inserted into a reader at a merchant's shop designed to readthe reward data and enable redemption without the necessity to use paperand ink.

[0031] Other possible variations include use of printer 37 to printsupplemental information other than a reward coupon in place of or inaddition to the printing of rewards. Also, indicator 25 can beeliminated by coupling the output signal 23 of controller 19 to the TVinputs so that an icon, for example, is displayed on the screen toprovide an effect equivalent to the effect of the indicator. Inaddition, manual actuation of button 27 to produce signal 31 can bereplaced by voice commands, for example. Furthermore, the sequence ofsteps in the flow charts depicted in the drawings can be modified withequivalent results.

[0032] A further variation has to do with the common reward printingdata, such as the format or formats, pre-stored in memory 39. It is alsofeasible to enable the entry of data into memory 39 from a remotestation (not shown), as via a suitable wire or wireless communicationslink (e.g. a telephone line, ISDN line or cable, for example, or awireless communication system can be used, such as satellite orcellular). This remote entry can be used, for example, to convenientlyload new pre-stored formats into memory 39. Various other settableparameters can be set in this manner to provide added convenience andflexibility as features of the invention.

[0033] These and all other such modifications are intended to fallwithin the scope of the present invention as defined by the followingclaims.

1. An interactive method for generating a supplementary, program-relatedoutput, comprising: obtaining a programming signal; obtaining asupplementary, program-related data signal; combining said programmingsignal and said supplementary, program-related data signal into abroadcast signal; broadcasting said broadcast signal from a programsignal source; receiving said broadcast signal; performing saidprogramming signal of the received broadcast signal with reproductionequipment for an audience; storing said supplementary, program-relateddata signal of the received broadcast signal; enabling retrieval of saidstored supplementary, program-related data signal interactively withsaid programming signal being performed; and responding to a controlsignal actuated by a member of said audience tuned to said programmingsignal being performed to interactively retrieve said storedsupplementary, program-related data signal and to generate saidsupplementary, program-related output.
 2. The interactive method ofclaim 1, wherein said supplementary, program-related data signalincludes all data necessary to produce a human-perceptible output. 3.The interactive method of claim 2, wherein said output of said storedsupplementary, program-related data signal comprises printing.
 4. Theinteractive method of claim 2, wherein said output of said storedsupplementary, program-related data signal comprises electronic recordalin a portable device adapted for use in a reader.
 5. The interactivemethod of claim 2, wherein said programming signal is for a commercialto advertise a product, said human-perceptible output is a rewardrelated to purchase of said product, and said supplementary,program-related data signal is a reward data signal.
 6. The interactivemethod of claim 5, wherein said human-perceptible output produced fromsaid reward data signal is a discount coupon.
 7. The interactive methodof claim 1, wherein said control signal is generated by a handheld,remote control device.
 8. The interactive method of claim 1, furthercomprising generating an indication responsive to said supplementary,program-related data signal being received in said broadcast signal toalert the audience that such a supplementary, program-related output isinteractively available with the received programming signal beingperformed.
 9. The interactive method of claim 8, wherein said indicationis visual.
 10. The interactive method of claim 1, wherein a plurality ofsupplementary, program-related outputs can be generated as a combinationof common output data and specific output data, with said common outputdata being common to at least two of said outputs, and said specificoutput data being unique to said outputs, respectively; wherein saidsupplementary, program-related data signal combined with saidprogramming signal includes said specific output data; wherein saidcommon output data is pre-stored locally with respective members of saidaudience for retrieval rather than being broadcast with said programmingsignal; and wherein said pre-stored common output data is retrieved andcombined with said received specific output data to generate saidsupplementary, program-related output in response to said controlsignal.
 11. An interactive method for generating a supplementary,program-related output from a broadcast signal that is a combination ofa programming signal and a supplementary, program-related data signal,said method comprising: receiving said broadcast signal; performing saidprogramming signal of the received broadcast signal with reproductionequipment for an audience; storing said supplementary, program-relateddata signal of the received broadcast signal; enabling retrieval of saidstored supplementary, program-related data signal interactively withsaid programming signal being performed; and responding to a controlsignal actuated by a member of said audience tuned to said programmingsignal being performed to interactively retrieve said storedsupplementary, program-related data signal and to generate saidsupplementary, program-related output.
 12. The interactive method ofclaim 11, wherein said supplementary, program-related data signalincludes all data necessary to produce a human-perceptible output. 13.The interactive method of claim 12, wherein said output of said storedsupplementary, program-related data signal comprises printing.
 14. Theinteractive method of claim 12, wherein said output of said storedsupplementary, program-related data signal comprises electronic recordalin a portable device adapted for use in a reader.
 15. The interactivemethod of claim 12, wherein said programming signal is for a commercialto advertise a product, said human-perceptible output is a rewardrelated to purchase of said product, and said supplementary,program-related data signal is a reward data signal.
 16. The interactivemethod of claim 15, wherein said human-perceptible output produced fromsaid reward data signal is a discount coupon.
 17. The interactive methodof claim 11, wherein said control signal is generated by a handheld,remote control device.
 18. The interactive method of claim 11, furthercomprising generating an indication responsive to said supplementary,program-related data signal being received in said broadcast signal toalert the audience that such a supplementary, program-related output isinteractively available with the received programming signal beingperformed.
 19. The interactive method of claim 18, wherein saidindication is visual.
 20. The interactive method of claim 11, wherein aplurality of supplementary, program-related outputs can be generated asa combination of common output data and specific output data, with saidcommon output data being common to at least two of said outputs and saidspecific output data being unique to said outputs, respectively, withsaid supplementary, program-related data signal combined with saidprogramming signal including said specific output data; said methodfurther comprising: pre-storing said common output data locally withrespective members of said audience for retrieval rather than beingbroadcast with said programming signal; and retrieving and combiningsaid pre-stored common output data with said received specific outputdata to generate said supplementary, program-related output in responseto said control signal.
 21. An interactive method for generating asupplementary, program-related output, comprising: obtaining aprogramming signal; obtaining a supplementary, program-related datasignal; combining said programming signal and said supplementary,program-related data signal into a broadcast signal; broadcasting saidbroadcast signal from a program signal source; receiving said broadcastsignal; performing said programming signal of the received broadcastsignal with reproduction equipment for an audience; enabling access tosaid supplementary, program-related data signal of the receivedbroadcast signal interactively with said programming signal beingperformed; and responding to a control signal actuated by a member ofsaid audience tuned to said programming signal being performed tointeractively access said supplementary, program-related data signal andto generate said supplementary, program-related output.
 22. Theinteractive method of claim 21, wherein said step of enabling access tosaid supplementary, program-related data signal comprises storing saidsupplementary, program-related data signal of the received broadcastsignal.
 23. An interactive method for generating a supplementary,program-related output, comprising: obtaining a programming signal;obtaining a supplementary, program-related data signal; combining saidprogramming signal and said supplementary, program-related data signalinto a broadcast signal; broadcasting said broadcast signal from aprogram signal source; receiving said broadcast signal; performing saidprogramming signal of the received broadcast signal with reproductionequipment for an audience; storing said supplementary, program-relateddata signal of the received broadcast signal interactively with saidprogramming signal being performed; enabling retrieval of said storedsupplementary, program-related data signal; and responding to a controlsignal actuated by a member of said audience tuned to said programmingsignal being performed to retrieve said stored supplementary,program-related data signal and to generate said supplementary,program-related output.
 24. The interactive method of claim 23, whereinsaid supplementary, program-related data signal includes all datanecessary to produce a human-perceptible output.
 25. The interactivemethod of claim 23, wherein a plurality of supplementary,program-related outputs can be generated as a combination of commonoutput data and specific output data, with said common output data beingcommon to at least two of said outputs, and said specific output databeing unique to said outputs, respectively; wherein said supplementary,program-related data signal combined with said programming signalincludes said specific output data; wherein said common output data ispre-stored locally with respective members of said audience forretrieval rather than being broadcast with said programming signal; andwherein said pre-stored common output data is retrieved and combinedwith said received specific output data to generate said supplementary,program-related output in response to said control signal.
 26. Anapparatus for interactively generating a supplementary, program-relatedoutput, comprising: means for obtaining a programming signal; means forobtaining a supplementary, program-related data signal; means forcombining said programming signal and said supplementary,program-related data signal into a broadcast signal; means forbroadcasting said broadcast signal from a program signal source; meansfor receiving said broadcast signal; means for performing saidprogramming signal of the received broadcast signal with reproductionequipment for an audience; means for storing said supplementary,program-related data signal of the received broadcast signal; means forenabling retrieval of said stored supplementary, program-related datasignal interactively with said programming signal being performed; andmeans for responding to a control signal actuated by a member of saidaudience tuned to said programming signal being performed tointeractively retrieve said stored supplementary, program-related datasignal and to generate said supplementary, program-related output. 27.The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said supplementary, program-relateddata signal includes all data necessary to produce a human-perceptibleoutput.
 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said output of saidstored supplementary, program-related data signal comprises printing.29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said output of said storedsupplementary, program-related data signal comprises electronic recordalin a portable device adapted for use in a reader.
 30. The apparatus ofclaim 27, wherein said programming signal is for a commercial toadvertise a product, said human-perceptible output is a reward relatedto purchase of said product, and said supplementary, program-relateddata signal is a reward data signal.
 31. The apparatus of claim 30,wherein said human-perceptible output produced from said reward datasignal is a discount coupon.
 32. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein saidcontrol signal is generated by a handheld, remote control device. 33.The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising means for generating anindication responsive to said supplementary, program-related data signalbeing received in said broadcast signal to alert the audience that sucha supplementary, program-related output is interactively available withthe received programming signal being performed.
 34. The apparatus ofclaim 33, wherein said indication is visual.
 35. The apparatus of claim26, wherein a plurality of supplementary, program-related outputs can begenerated as a combination of common output data and specific outputdata, with said common output data being common to at least two of saidoutputs, and said specific output data being unique to said outputs,respectively; wherein said supplementary, program-related data signalcombined with said programming signal includes said specific outputdata; wherein said common output data is pre-stored locally withrespective members of said audience for retrieval rather than beingbroadcast with said programming signal; and wherein said pre-storedcommon output data is retrieved and combined with said received specificoutput data to generate said supplementary, program-related output inresponse to said control signal.
 36. An apparatus for interactivelygenerating a supplementary, program-related output from a broadcastsignal that is a combination of a programming signal and asupplementary, program-related data signal, said apparatus comprising:means for receiving said broadcast signal; means for performing saidprogramming signal of the received broadcast signal with reproductionequipment for an audience; means for storing said supplementary,program-related data signal of the received broadcast signal; means forenabling retrieval of said stored supplementary, program-related datasignal interactively with said programming signal being performed; andmeans for responding to a control signal actuated by a member of saidaudience tuned to said programming signal being performed tointeractively retrieve said stored supplementary, program-related datasignal and to generate said supplementary, program-related output. 37.An apparatus for interactively generating a supplementary,program-related output from a broadcast signal, comprising: means forobtaining a programming signal; means for obtaining a supplementary,program-related data signal; means for combining said programming signaland said supplementary, program-related data signal into a broadcastsignal; means for broadcasting said broadcast signal from a programsignal source; means for receiving said broadcast signal; means forperforming said programming signal of the received broadcast signal withreproduction equipment for an audience; means for enabling access tosaid supplementary, program-related data signal of the receivedbroadcast signal interactively with said programming signal beingperformed; and means for responding to a control signal actuated by amember of said audience tuned to said programming signal being performedto interactively access said supplementary, program-related data signaland to generate said supplementary, program-related output.
 38. Anapparatus for interactively generating a supplementary, program-relatedoutput from a broadcast signal, comprising: means for obtaining aprogramming signal; means for obtaining a supplementary, program-relateddata signal; means for combining said programming signal and saidsupplementary, program-related data signal into a broadcast signal;means for broadcasting said broadcast signal from a program signalsource; means for receiving said broadcast signal; means for performingsaid programming signal of the received broadcast signal withreproduction equipment for an audience; means for storing saidsupplementary, program-related data signal of the received broadcastsignal interactively with said programming signal being performed; meansfor enabling retrieval of said stored supplementary, program-relateddata signal; and means for responding to a control signal actuated by amember of said audience tuned to said programming signal being performedto retrieve said supplementary, program-related data signal and togenerate said supplementary, program-related output.